Monday 9 February 2026
LPC’s Dry Dock has been operating for 143 years and continues to support a wide range of marine and engineering work in New Zealand.
Over the past year, from January 2025 to December 2025, the team successfully completed 25 dockings which included twenty fishing vessels, two tugs, one barge, and one tanker. Each docking operation lasted between 10 and 45 days, depending on the specific requirements of the work involved.
Each docking follows a set process. A pre-dock meeting is held the day before with the Dock Master and vessel crew. On the day of docking, the team positions the blocks eight hours before sill time and floods the dock. The Pilot and Dock Master confirm conditions before bringing the vessel in. Once centred, the gate is closed, shores and gangways are set, services are connected, and the dock is drained. This process takes about five hours.
The departure process is also planned step by step. Lines are secured, the dock is refilled, shores are removed, and toolbox talks are held. A tug then connects the bridle, and the vessel departs, usually up to an hour before high water.
The main contractors who work across most dockings are Lyttelton Engineering, DGI Morgan, Marine Blast & Paint, Not Just Coatings, and Upright Scaffolding.
Contractor work can include water blasting, engineering and mechanical jobs.
There is ongoing steady demand for the Dry Dock, which is currently booked up to 10 years in advance. There are 20 vessels scheduled this year, with a few vessels to confirm closer to the time.